Indian pace bowling has future!. Review on S Sreesanth

BACK IN THE HUNT

India has beaten Pakistan in the Hutch series, and what India also gained is a number of promising youngsters. Dhoni and Yuvraj were instrumental in the victory, but there were some other youngsters who gave some good contributions to the team's overall performance. One of them was Sreesanth, the only fast bowler from Kerala, who has taken a hattrick in Ranji Trophy Cricket. He becomes the second player from the Kerala team to play for the country after Tinu Yohannan.

Even if the credit of being the first Keralite in the Indian team goes to Abey Kuruvilla, he never played in the Kerala team, as he was a part of Mumbai ranji team, if I remember correctly. Playing in a weaker side always makes it difficult to get into the national team, but Sreesanth has managed to get in there, and also to give a performance which was good enough to get selected for the test series with England, and still going well.

THE NEW NAME IN THE LIST

With just some average performances in the series against Srilanka in his credit, Sreesanth did a much better job in Pakistan, the land of his favourite stars Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. He performed quite well, especially in the final One Dayer, taking four wickets, his best bowling figures in ODIs. With a stylish bowling action and a decent pace, even better than the other fast bowlers in the team, Sreesanth has managed to make an impact, may be just the beginning of a new era for him.

He made quite an impressive debut against England, taking the first wicket of the opponents and his own first test wicket, getting Andrew Strauss caught by Laxman. He continued to send three more to the pavilion, including Kevin Pieterson, Mathew Hoggard, and also Panesar. No doubt that he did give India something to cheer about in the first innings, but remained wicketless in the second innings, may be trying too bowl faster.

YOUNG AND TALENTED

He was born at Kothamangalam, about fifty kilometres away from Cochin, who later moved to the commercial capital of Kerala itself. He started his career as a leg-spinner, but he always had the potential of being a fast bowler from his aggression itself. he was selected in the Duleep Trophy very fast, after having a glimpse of his talent, and had been part of the India A team which played against New Zealand at Rajkot and taking the wicket of Craig McMillan, but had to retreat from a number of matches later, due to the injury problems.

After some good performance in the Challenger trophy, he deserved to be in the Indian team. His problems might be coming from the fact that he varies very much from his line and length, and he had been able to create some problems while bowling consistently at the right spots. Having too much weird beliefs, he changed his jersey number from 55 to 36, looking for his lucky number 9 (3+6=9) and he was also about to change his name from ''Sreesanth'' to ''Sreesunth'', but the idea seems to be dropped now.

GOT SOME LUCK

With left handers like Pathan, Zaheer and R.P.Singh looking for a place in the team, and Agarkar having the same inconsistency problem, may be being a right hander will prove to be great for Sreesanth. The way in which he came back after the number of catches which were dropped of his bowling against Pakistan in the third One Dayer, shows his intensity. He is not the best fielder, and not much balls came in his direction before dropping Kevin Peterson off Anil Kumble.

As the England - India 4th ODI Match is supposed to happen at Cochin on 6 April 2006, lets see how this man performs at home, with all the fan support. The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium has witnessed some of the best matches in the cricketing history, and the Indian record has been good so far, winning the first two matches against Australia and South Africa, played here. Sachin Tendulkar has managed to bowl the spell of his life at this ground. Lets hope that this means some luck to Sreesanth also, because luck is the major factor in staying in the Indian team.

THE TIME HAS COME

He just have to keep in mind that he has come at the right time into the team. Indians had been searching for some ''real'' fast bowlers and Irfan Pathan, even after giving some good performances with the bat, looked just ordinary with the ball, except for one hattrick. Zaheer and Agarkar are just shadows of their past glory and R.P.Singh still have to prove a bit more as a consistent, wicket taking bowler.

All these things just means that Sreesanth can be a permanent part of the Indian team, if he just concentrate and keep bowling as he is supposed to, and may be he is the real future of the Indian pace bowling, taking important wickets, breaking partnerships as well as bowling at a decent pace, good enough to bring some fear to the batsmen, supported by the swing factor.

If he has done this much on a pitch which got nothing for the fast bowlers, may be he can create miracles at Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Also hoping that he can improve his fielding a bit too. This man certainly has got the potential. Wishing all the best for Sreesanth and the youngsters who have got the talent, but still not able to get their opportunity due to the overflowing with rusty players like Tendulkar, Kumble and Laxman.....and also hoping to see some reviews on the newer generation players.....

THANKS FOR READING THE REVIEW, KEEP COMENTING.....